Oxidative Degradations of the Side Chain of Unsaturated Ent-labdanes. Part II

A route for the degradation of the side chain of ent-labdane derivatives has beendevised, giving the useful synthon 2β,12-dihydroxy-13,14,15,16,17-pentanor-ent-labdane-8-one (8). The use of this compound in the preparation of terpenylquinone derivatives shallbe reported elsewhere. In addition we have synthesized the compound 2β,12-diacetoxy-8β,17-epoxy-13,14,15,16-tetranor-ent-labdane (10), which upon catalytic epoxide ringopening in alkaline or acid media gave rise in all cases to the formation of tricycliccompounds.